Former St Elphin's dinner lady honoured nearly 20 years after retirement

Winnie Taylor, who worked at St Elphin's Primary School, now The Old School on Fairfield Street, is said to have received little recognition for the work she did as both a dinner lady and caretaker at the time she left, in the late 1990s.

As a celebration for her commitment and to ensure Winnie, now in her 80s, remains associated with the building The Old School has named its community art gallery, The Taylor Gallery.

Ian Smith, part of the management team at The Old School, said: "Winnie is very much part of the community and everyone knows her.

"When she retired from the school, she wasn't given a send off so naming the gallery after her is a token of appreciation for her from the school and a way of being remembered.

"It made Winnie's day when we opened the gallery and this way, her memory will always live on.

"She still comes across to play bingo and has links with the school, friends and children who attended here."

Winnie and husband Derek Taylor married more than 60 years ago and have lived opposite the school since, where they have raised their family, including two children, grandchildren and great grandchildren together.

Winnie said: "It was lovely being with the children at the school, I enjoyed being there and everybody was nice.

"I still go over to The Old School regularly to join in with the different classes – I go to bingo on a Monday and Wednesday for a couple of hours."

The former St Elphin's Primary School building closed in 2005 before moving to the existing site on Farrell Street.

Now known as The Old School, it has become an independent charity that caters for leisure, supportive, educational and creative activities.

The Taylor Gallery, part of The Old School, plays host to exhibitions put together by members of University of the Third Age (U3A), bringing retired and semi-retired people together to develop their interests and continue their learning.

For more information visit The Old School on Facebook.